The Snuffed-Out Candle
It was just a book. At least, that’s what Yuelia had thought when she picked it up. It was falling apart, the cover torn and tattered, the title illegible. CO--X --M--RA, it read.
Just as Yuelia opened it, Marcus came into the room. “Lia, no--” he gasped, but it was too late. The pages flapped wildly, the shadow hands grabbing the two and pulling them through the portal.
Yuelia awoke with a dull ache in her head and a sharp pain in her chest. She recognized the world instantly, though it had been eight years since she had last seen it. “No...” she breathed.
Her optic organs focused on Marcus. His eyes were dusky red now, and he was looking at Yuelia with intense fear and frustration.
“Marcus?” The woman asked, reaching out to him, freezing when he recoiled.
“What have you done with Yuelia?!” he shouted desperately. “Where have you taken her, you monster?”
Yuelia shook her head in disbelief. “Marcus, it’s me! It’s Yuelia!” she cried out.
But to Marcus, all that was heard were threatening growls. “Get back!” he yelped, rushing to make a torch. Yuelia obeyed, fading into the shadows. Her headache was stronger now, and to top it off...
Now she had heartbreak.